§ 76. Mr. Championasked the Minister of Agriculture the prices now being paid in respect of the items for which the Government have determined the minimum prices for the years 1954–55 and 1955–56.
§ Sir T. DugdaleThe following is the reply:
EXPECTED AVERAGE PRICES 1952–53, FOR COMPARISON WITH MINIMUM PRICES FOR LIVESTOCK PRODUCTS, 1954–55 AND 1955–56 Expected Average Price in 1952–53 Milk, average wholesale price, per gallon 3s. 0¼d. (including production bonus) Fat Cattle—steers, heifers and cow heifers, average per live cwt. 124s.7d. (including quality premium) Fat Sheep and Lambs, per lb. d.c.w. 2s. 7d. (including headage payment and spring lamb bonus) Fat Pigs, clean pigs in quality premium range, per score d.w., including quality premiums 56s. 6d. Hen Eggs, per dozen 4s. 7d. (first quality only) Duck Eggs, per dozen 3s. 3½d. Wool per lb. for fleece wool 4s. 6d. NOTES
These average prices relate as nearly'as possible to the minimum price commodity specifications for 1954–55 and 1955–56. They do not, therefore, necessarily agree exactly with the prices suggested for 1952–53 by Appendix VI of Cmd. 8556. In the case of fat cattle, the 1952–53 expected average price includes cow heifers whereas the minimum price guarantee relates to steers, heifers and a class of special young cows. The quality premium range for pigs for minimum price purposes differs from that in current use.